Libya’s Latest Peace ‘Deal’: Are The Hopes Justified?

The UN’s Libya mediator says that major differences between the negotiating parties have been overcome and that may pave the way for an agreement on the formation of a unity government by the 20 September deadline. But there are still signs that the latest, and supposedly last, deal may collapse.

In a rare moment of hope for the long-running negotiations over a unity government, UN Special Representative in Libya, Bernardino Leon, declared on 13 September that the two main parties to the talks had “overcome their differences” on the major outstanding issues.

The latest round of talks on the creation of a government of national unity began in Skhirat, just outside the Moroccan capital Rabat, on 10 September. At the opening of the talks, Mr Leon said that he hoped that they “will be the final round, the moment of truth for the parties.” The 20 September deadline for the conclusion of the talks, he said, “must be the last one, must be the one that will allow Libya to get out of this crisis.”(CONTINUED - 819 WORDS)